Joseph e



(No Model.)

J. E. OFFUTT.

HORSE HAY RAKE. No. 329,767. Patented Nov. 3, 1885.

' W/T/VE88E8 INVENTOR N4 Pnsns mommw. wim u. c.

" UNITE JOSEPH E. OFFUTT, OF SPRINGFIELD, OHIO, ASSIGNOR TO JOSEPH \V.

' THOMAS, OF SAME PLACE.

HORSE HAY-RAKE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 329,767, dated November3, 1885.

Application filed February 9, 1885. Serial No. 155,399. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, J OSEPH E. OFFUTT, a citizen of the United States,residing at Springfield, in'the county of Clark and State of Ohio, haveinvented certain new and useful Improvements in Horse Hay-Rakes, ofwhich the following is aspecification, reference being had therein tothe accompanying drawings.

This invention relates to certain new and useful improvements indraftdumping hayrakes; and it has for its object to provide meanswhereby the rake-head, when thrown forward in the act of dumping thecollected quantity ofhay, will automatically disengage the clutches onthe main axle from the supporting-wheels, whereby the tines arepermitted to gravitate and return to their work.

In the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, andon which like letters of reference indicate the same or correspondingfeatures, Figure 1 represents a plan view of my improved hay-rake; Fig.2, a sectional view through the intermediate framebeam and across therake-head, showing the means for disengaging the clutches; Fig. 3, aside elevation of the clutches; Fig. 4, a sectional view of the same.

The letter A designates the frame of the machine proper, the same beingconstructed in any approved manner, and provided with the usualdraft-shafts, B. The axle-spindles 0 pass loosely through the bracketsD, which are secured to the side pieces of the frame, and are connectedat their inner ends to the rakehead E in any convenient manner, as byblocks E. These spindles are mounted in the supporting-wheels F, thehubs of which are preferably constructed of metal, and provided on theirinner faces with a series of radial pro- 0 jections, G, therebyconstituting one member of a clutch. The other member, H, of the clutchis provided with corresponding radial recesses, and is fitted so as toturn with yet reciprocate freely on the spindle O.

The letter I designates two bars, through which pass two studs, J,whereby they are movably connected with the frame proper. These barsterminate at their outer ends in angular extensions, which embrace thesliding members H of the clutches. The inner ends of these rods arepivotally connected to aslide, K, by means of the links L, and the slideitself is preferably connected with the center beam of the frame bymeans of the bolt M, which passes through a slot formed in said beam,and which serves as a guide to said slide. Extending rearwardly from theslide K, and by preference slightly to one side of the said center beam,is a stud, N, to which is connected a chain, 0, which passes rearwardlyaround the sheave P, and thence forwardly to the arm Q, extendingupwardly from and attached to the rake-head. Thus it will be observedthat when the clutches are made to engage by pressing the foot upon thechain R, connected to the forward cross-beam of the frame and to theslide K, the rake-head, being rigidly attached to the spindles, will bethrown forward,and the tines connected thereto elevated, so as to dumpthe collected quantity of hay. \Vhen this head reaches a point where theslack of the chain 0 is taken up, it actuates the slide K rearwardlythereby, and, through the medium of the links, draws the bars I towardeach other and disengages the respective members of the clutches. Thisarrangement allows the tines to gravitate and return to their work, andby this means the machine is dumped by the draft, and the action of therakehead is utilized to automatically free itself.

The slot in the center beam of the main frame and the bolt M, whichserves as a guide for the slide K, may be omitted, if desired.

Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim as new, anddesire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. In a hay-rake, the combination, with the rake-head provided withrake-teeth and connected to the axle-spindles, of the clutches, the barsconnected with the clutches, having slots and studs by which they aremovably connected with the frame, the pivoted links, the slide, and thechain passing over a sheave and connected with the arm extending fromthe rake-head, whereby the clutches are automatically disengaged.

2. In a hay-rake, the combination, with the rake-head provided withrake-teeth and connected to the axle-spindles, of the clutches,

the bars connected with the clutches and hav- In testimony whereof Iaffix my signature in ing slots, the studs by which they are movablypresence of two witnesses. connected with the frame, the pivoted links,the slide, and the chain passing over 2t sheave 5 and connected with anarm extending from the \Vitnesses:

rake-head, and the f0otchain connected With MATT. J. G. DOUGHERTY, theslide and with the frame. JOSEPH COX, J r.

JOSEPH E. OFFUTT.

